Houston Dash draw 1-1 with Chicago Red Stars to win season series

A late second-half goal from Rachel Daly secured a point for the Houston Dash in a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park Saturday evening. The match was delayed by nearly an hour due to thunder and inclement weather.

Early pressure from the Red Stars brought the first goal of the game in the second minute. Vanessa Dibernardo played a short corner kick to Danielle Colaprico and the midfielder dribbled into the box. Her uncontested shot evaded traffic inside the six-yard box to beat Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger at the far post.

Houston equalized in the 82nd minute in a play that began in Houston’s defensive third. Amber Brooks recovered a ball that deflected off Cari Roccaro inside the box and chipped a pass to Melissa Henderson, who sprung Kealia Ohai along the left flank. The team captain found Daly inside the box, and in spite of pressure from a defender the forward turned and beat Michele Dalton at the near post for her third goal of the season.

The draw gave Houston a 1-0-1 record against the Red Stars this season, marking the first time the Dash have won the season series from Chicago. The Red Stars still lead the all-time series with a record of 3-1-4.

Dibernardo’s long-range effort in the 18th minute missed the mark by a few inches as her shot sailed over the crossbar onto the top of the goal net.

Houston would respond two minutes later as Ohai dribbled into the box but her shot went wide of the near post.

The Red Stars were denied by the crossbar in the 22nd minute. Ellie Brush challenged Colaprico for a ball that Dibernardo collected outside the box. Her left-footed shot eventually fell to Megan Crosson, who cleared the ball.

This was the first start for Crosson, who joined the club three weeks ago after graduating from Santa Clara University.

Dash Denise O’Sullivan prevented a goal in the 68th minute as she cleared a shot from Dibernardo at the goal line.

Houston returns to BBVA Compass next week to host the Western New York Flash during the Dash and Dynamo’s “Dog Days of Summer” weekend presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The Bud Light Beer Garden will be dog-friendly, and a special ticket package will give fans a commemorative dog leash courtesy of Tito’s. For tickets to the match on July 30 or any other Houston Dash home match, visit HoustonDashSoccer.com, call 713-276-GOAL or stop by the BBVA Compass Stadium box office.